Method, system, and apparatus for registration processing

ABSTRACT

A registration processing method, a handover processing method, a system, and an apparatus are disclosed herein to enable the network to distinguish between different registration processing types. The method includes: receiving information about a processing type of registering a UE into a network, where the information is reported by the UE in the process of the registration; and identifying the processing type of the registration according to the information about the processing type. The system includes: a UE, adapted to report information about the processing type of registering the UE into a network in the process of the registration; and a network, adapted to identify the processing type of the registration according to the received registration processing type information reported by the UE.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2008/070909, filed on May 8, 2008, which claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application Nos. 200710104400.7, filed on May 11, 2007; 200710181758.X, filed on Oct. 24, 2007; 200710165540.5, filed on Nov. 2, 2007; and 200810085729.8, filed on Mar. 13, 2008; all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the communication field, and in particular, to a registration processing method, a handover processing method, a system, and an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

In order to enhance the competitiveness of the future networks, the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) is researching a new evolved network. A requirement of the evolved network is to implement handover between a 3GPP access system (such as GERAN, UTRAN, or E-UTRAN) and a non-3GPP access system (such as a WLAN or WiMax). In the existing protocol, the handover procedure is implemented via Attach or Tracking Area Update (TAU) procedure by the UE in a new access system.

In the process of developing the present invention, the inventor finds that the processing mechanism of an Attach or TAU process caused by handover differs sharply from the processing mechanism of a normal Attach/TAU process: In a normal Attach process, the network needs to delete all bearers previously created by the user, create a default bearer between the UE and the Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW), and register the PDN GW address used by the UE into a Home Subscriber Server (HSS); but in an Attach process caused by handover, the network needs to re-create all bearers previously created by the user. In the normal TAU process, the network does not handle the bearers of the user, but in the TAU process caused by handover, the network needs to re-create all bearers previously created by the user.

In the normal handover between a 3GPP system and a non-3GPP system, the UE is disconnected from the source Access Network (AN) first, and then the UE accesses the target access network through an Attach process. Consequently, the interruption of the UE service is long, which influence the service experience of the user. Therefore, an optimized handover mechanism is adopted for handover between an Evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) network and a High Rate Packet Data (HRPD) access networks in Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) network. In the optimized handover mechanism, the user plane path hands over to the target access network first before the UE hands over to the target access network (namely, while the UE is in the source access network).

In the process of developing the present invention, the inventor finds that the UE may hand over from an HRPD network to an E-UTRAN network in either idle state or active state. When the UE performs handover in an active state, the access network may be notified to create the bearer on the access network side in the handover process in order to speed up service recovery time after the UE hands over to the target access network. However, in the idle state, the UE runs no service and is not sensitive to handover delay. Creating bearers on the access network side when the UE is idle is a waste of the access network resources. In a pre-handover mechanism, once the UE handover fails, the UE needs to notify the PDN GW to switch the downlink path back to the source access network. Therefore, the pre-handover mechanism makes the system more complicated.

SUMMARY

A registration processing method, a handover processing method, a system, and an apparatus are disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention to enable the network to distinguish between different access processing types.

A registration processing method is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

receiving information about a processing type of registering a UE into a network, where the information is reported by the UE in the process of the registration; and

identifying the processing type of the registration according to the information about the processing type.

A handover method is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

receiving an Access Request of a UE; and

identifying the handover processing type of the Access Request according to the Access Request of the UE.

Another registration processing method is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes:

receiving information about a processing type of registering a UE, where the information is reported by an HSS or an Authentication Authorization Accounting (AAA) server; and

identifying the processing type of the registration according to the information about the processing type.

A system is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The system includes:

a UE, adapted to report information about the processing type of registering the UE into a network in the process of the registration; and

a network, adapted to identify the processing type of the registration according to the received registration processing type information reported by the UE.

A UE is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The UE includes:

an identifying unit, adapted to identify the type of registration when the UE initiates the registration;

a registration initiating unit, adapted to initiate registration, and send a registration triggering signal; and

a reporting unit, adapted to receive the registration triggering signal from the registration initiating unit, and report the processing type information in the process of registering the UE into the network, where the processing type information corresponds to the registration type identified by the identifying unit.

A network-side network element is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The UE includes:

an obtaining unit, adapted to obtain the processing type information reported by the UE in the process of registering the UE into a network; and

an identifying unit, adapted to identify the processing type of the registration according to the processing type information obtained by the obtaining unit.

In the embodiments of the present invention, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the network in the process of registering into the network, and therefore, the network distinguishes between different registration processing types accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows system architecture of an evolved network in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows system architecture of optimized handover between an HRPD access system and an E-UTRAN access system in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart of a method in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 shows a structure of a system in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 shows a structure of a UE in an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a structure of a network-side network element in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a flowchart of the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 is a flowchart of the third embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of the fourth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of the fifth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart of the sixth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart of the seventh embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart of the eighth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of the ninth embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the 10^(th) embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of the 11^(th) embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart of the 12^(th) embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of the 13^(th) embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows system architecture of an evolved network in an embodiment of the present invention. The architecture includes:

an E-UTRAN, adapted to implement all radio-related functions in the evolved network;

a Mobility Management Entity (MME), responsible for control plane mobility management, including user context and Mobility state management, and allocation of temporary mobile subscriber identifiers;

a serving gateway (GW), which is a user plane anchor between 3GPP access systems and is adapted to terminate the interface to the E-UTRAN;

a PDN GW, which is a user plane anchor between a 3GPP access system and a non-3GPP access system, and is adapted to terminate the interface to the external Packet Data Network (PDN);

a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF), responsible for policy control decision and flow based charging control;

an HSS, adapted to store subscriber data;

a UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) and a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network (GERAN), adapted to implement all radio-related functions in the existing GPRS/UMTS network;

a Serving GPRS Supporting Node (SGSN), adapted to implement route forwarding, mobility management, session management, and subscriber data storage in a GPRS/UMTS network;

a non-3GPP IP access system, an access network defined by a non-3GPP organization, for example, Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), and Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX); and

an AAA server, adapted to perform access authentication, authorization and accounting for the UE.

The foregoing architecture does not mean the ultimate System Architecture Evolution (SAE), and the ultimate architecture may differ from the foregoing architecture, as is not limited by the present invention.

FIG. 2 shows system architecture of optimized handover between an HRPD access system and an E-UTRAN access system in an embodiment of the present invention. An S101 interface is added between the MME and the HRPD Access Network (HRPD AN) which is responsible for mobility management and radio resource management in the HRPD network. This interface transmits the signaling between the MME and the HRPD AN. A Packet Data Serving Node (PDSN) is a user plane processing network element in an HRPD network, and performs user plane processing in the HRPD network.

The registration processing method, the handover processing method, the system, and the apparatus disclosed herein are based on the foregoing two types of system architecture, and are elaborated below:

In order to enable the network to distinguish between different registration processing types, a registration processing method is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 3, the method includes the following steps:

S1. The network receives information about the processing type of registering the UE into the network, where the information is reported by the UE in the process of the registration.

Before this step, the UE may identify the type of the registration when registering into the network. The UE reports the information about the processing type corresponding to the identified registration type to the network in the process of registering into the network.

S2. The network identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information about the processing type.

Another registration processing method is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The method includes: The network receives information about a processing type of registering a UE, where the information is reported by an HSS or an AAA server; and the network identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information about the processing type.

A registration processing system is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 4, the system includes a UE and a network.

The UE is adapted to report information about the processing type of registering the UE into a network in the process of the registration. The UE identifies the processing type of the registration in the process of registering into the network and then reports the registration processing type information.

The network is adapted to identify the processing type of the registration according to the received registration processing type information reported by the UE. Specifically, the network-side MME (in an evolved network), SGSN (in a 2G/3G network), or non-3GPP GW (in a non-3GPP network) identifies the processing type information reported by the UE.

A UE is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 5, the UE includes:

an identifying unit, adapted to identify the type of registration when the UE initiates the registration;

a registration initiating unit, adapted to initiate registration, and send a registration triggering signal; and

a reporting unit, adapted to receive the registration triggering signal from the registration initiating unit, and report the processing type information in the process of registering the UE into the network, where the processing type information corresponds to the registration type identified by the identifying unit. The reporting modes include but are not limited to: The reporting unit includes the processing type information in an information element (IE) of an Attach Request message; or the reporting unit includes the processing type information in an IE of a TAU request message; or the reporting unit includes the processing type information in an IE of a Routing Area Update (RAU) request message; or the reporting unit includes the processing type information in an IE of an Access Request message; or the reporting unit includes the processing type information in an IE of an Access Authentication message or an Authentication message; or the reporting unit includes the processing type information in an IE of an Internet Key Exchange Protocol Version 2 (IKEv2) or IP Security Protocol Security Association (IPsec SA) Setup request message.

The detailed reporting process of the reporting unit is: The reporting unit sends different Attach Request messages to the network based on different registration types; or the reporting unit sends different TAU request messages to the network based on different registration types; or the reporting unit sends different RAU request messages to the network based on different registration types; or the reporting unit sends different Access Request messages to the network based on different registration types.

A network-side network element is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention. The network element is an MME (evolved network), SGSN (2G/3G network), or non-3GPP gateway (non-3GPP network). As shown in FIG. 6, the network element includes an obtaining unit and an identifying unit.

The obtaining unit is adapted to obtain the registration processing type information reported by the UE in the process of registering the UE into the network. Specifically, the obtained processing type information is reported by the UE, the HSS or the AAA server.

The identifying unit is adapted to identify the processing type of the registration according to the processing type information obtained by the obtaining unit.

The network element further includes a first processing unit, which is adapted to initiate a network-initiate bearer create procedure to create the bearer resources for the UE after the identifying unit identifies that the registration processing type is a handover registration processing type.

The network element further includes a second processing unit, which is adapted to not initiate resource release procedure to release the source access network resources after the identifying unit identifies that the registration processing type is an active-mode handover registration processing type.

The network element further includes a third processing unit, which is adapted to initiate a procedure of creating a data forwarding tunnel between a network element of the target network and a network element of the source network after the identifying unit identifies that the registration processing type is an active-mode handover registration processing type.

The present invention is elaborated through several embodiments below:

Embodiment 1

When the UE sends a registration request message to the MME, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the MME. The MME identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information, and performs the corresponding procedure according to registration processing type to complete the registration. The MME reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create resources in the 3GPP network used by the UE in the source non-3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the HSS stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP network, the HSS notifies the AAA server to cancel the UE registration in the non-3GPP network. The AAA server notifies the non-3GPP network to release the resource used by the UE. As shown in FIG. 7, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the non-3GPPAN through the non-3GPP GW and the PDN GW.

2. The non-3GPP network element sends a Handover Command (HO Command) to the UE, notifying the UE to hand over to the evolved network; or the UE discovers the evolved network and decides to initiate handover.

3. Before initiating registration into the evolved network, the UE identifies the type of the registration. Afterward, the UE sends a registration request message to the MME, and reports the registration processing type to the MME.

The registration processing type may be reported in one of the following ways:

(1) An Attach Type IE is added in the Attach Request message. For example, the values of the Attach Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Attach (also known as Initial Attach), and indicates that the Attach Request message is a normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Attach, and indicates that the Attach Request message is caused by handover. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the Attach Request message to indicate that the Attach Request message is caused by handover. The original Attach Request message indicates a normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message). The indication bit may be:

(a) a Handover Indication IE;

(b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Attach due to Handover”; or

(c) an Attach Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “HandoverAttach”.

(2) A new message is defined. For example, a new Handover Attach Request message is defined. This message indicates an Attach Request message caused by handover. The old Attach Request message indicates a normal Attach Request message (also known as an initial Attach Request message). In this way, the UE can send different Attach Request messages to the network to indicate the corresponding registration processing type information. Alternatively, a new message corresponding to the normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message) is defined, and the original Attach Request message corresponds to the Attach Request message caused by handover. Alternatively, both the Attach Request message caused by handover and the normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message) are redefined.

(3) An Update Type IE is added in the TAU request message. For example, the values of the Update Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal TAU (also known as Initial TAU), and indicates that the TAU request message is a normal TAU request message (also known as initial TAU request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover TAU, and indicates that the TAU request message is caused by handover. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the TAU request message to indicate that the TAU request message is caused by handover. The original TAU request message indicates a normal TAU request message (also known as initial TAU request message). The indication bit may be:

(a) a Handover Indication IE;

(b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “TAU due to Handover”; or

(c) an Update Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “Handover TAU”.

(4) A new message is defined. For example, a new Handover TAU Request message is defined. This message indicates a TAU request message caused by handover. The old TAU request message indicates a normal TAU request message (also known as an initial TAU request message). In this way, the UE can send different TAU request messages to the network to indicate the corresponding registration processing type information. Alternatively, a new message corresponding to the normal TAU request message (also known as initial TAU request message) is defined, and the original TAU request message corresponds to the TAU request message caused by handover. Alternatively, both the TAU request message caused by handover and the normal TAU request message (also known as initial TAU request message) are redefined.

4. An authentication procedure is performed between the UE, the MME, and the HSS to obtain the PDN GW address used by the UE. In this step, the MME may report the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS. If the registration processing type is a handover processing type, the HSS may provide the MME with the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN.

5. The MME sends an Update Location message to the HSS, and registers the address of the MME into the HSS. In this step, the MME may report the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS.

6. The HSS inserts the subscriber data into the MME.

7. The HSS returns an Update Location Ack message to the MME. In this step, the HSS may provide the MME with the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPPAN.

In the UE registration process, if the HSS identifies the UE registration processing type (for example, the HSS finds that it stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN, the HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover. Otherwise, the HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is a normal registration processing type), the HSS adds an indication bit into the message to notify MME of the UE registration processing type information. The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE. If the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover, the HSS adds a Handover Indication IE. For a normal registration processing type, the HSS does not add this IE;

b) a Cause IE. For the registration caused by handover, the HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Initial Attach”, or does not add the Cause IE; or

c) an Update Type IE. For the registration caused by handover, the HSS sets this IE to “Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the HSS sets this IE to “Initial Attach”, or does not add this IE.

8. The MME identifies the processing type of the registration according to the registration processing type information reported by the UE or the HSS.

Now the MME succeeds in distinguishing between different registration processing types.

Further, if the processing type is normal registration, the MME performs the normal registration procedure, and steps 11-18 are performed.

If the processing type is registration caused by handover, the MME sends a Create Bearer Request message to the obtained PDN GW address, requesting the network to initiate bearer creation procedure. In this way, the service used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN is re-created in the new access system. The process proceeds to step 9.

9. If it is necessary to obtain the Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules applied by the user from the PCRF, the PDN GW sends a Request PCC Rules message to the PCRF to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user. The PCRF provides the PDN GW with the PCC rules applied by the user.

10. The PDN GW initiates a network-initiate bearer creation procedure to create the bearer of the user, and then the process proceeds to step 18.

11. If the UE registration processing type is normal registration and the HSS stores the registered PDN GW addresses, and if such PDN GW addresses are the PDN GW addresses used by the UE when the UE accesses the non-3GPP AN and are registered into the HSS through the AAA server, the HSS sends a Cancel Register message to the AAA server, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the non-3GPP AN. The AAA server returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the HSS.

12. The AAA server sends a Cancel Register message to the PDN GW, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the non-3GPP AN. The PDN GW returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the AAA server.

13. If the interface protocol between the PDN GW and the non-3GPP GW is a Proxy Mobile Internet Protocol (PMIP), the PDN GW sends a Binding Revocation Indication message to the non-3GPP GW to cancel the PMIP binding between the non-3GPP GW and the PDN GW. The non-3GPP GW returns a Binding Revocation Acknowledge message to the PDN GW.

14. The AAA server may also send a Session Abort message to the non-3GPP GW. The non-3 GPP GW returns a Session Abort Ack message to the AAA server.

15. After receiving the Binding Revocation Indication message or the Session Abort message, the non-3GPP GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the non-3 GPP AN.

16. If the registration processing type of the UE is normal registration, the MME initiates a default bearer creation procedure to create a default bearer between the UE and the PDN GW.

17. The MME registers the PDN GW address used by the UE into the HSS. This operation may also be handled through a location update procedure. The MME sends an Update Location message including the PDN GW address to the HSS.

18. The MME returns an Attach Accept message or a TAU Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 2

The foregoing mechanism is also applicable to a 2G system and a 3G system. When the UE sends a registration request message to the SGSN, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the SGSN. The SGSN identifies the registration processing type according to the information. Further, the SGSN performs the corresponding operations according to the registration processing type to complete the registration. The SGSN reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create resources in the 3GPP network used by the UE in the source non-3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the HSS stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP network, the HSS notifies the AAA server to cancel the UE registration in the non-3GPP network. The AAA server notifies the non-3GPP network to release the resource used by the UE. As shown in FIG. 8, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the non-3GPPAN through the non-3GPP GW and the PDN GW.

2. The non-3GPP network element sends an HO Command to the UE, notifying the UE to hand over to the 2G or 3G network; or the UE discovers the 2G or 3G network and decides to initiate handover.

3. Before initiating registration into the 2G or 3G network, the UE identifies the type of the registration. Afterward, the UE sends a registration request message to the SGSN, and reports the registration processing type to the SGSN.

The registration processing type may be reported in one of the following ways:

(1) An Attach Type IE is added in the Attach Request message. For example, the values of the Attach Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Attach (also known as Initial Attach), and indicates that the Attach Request message is a normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Attach, and indicates that the Attach Request message is caused by handover. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the Attach Request message to indicate that the Attach Request message is caused by handover. The original Attach Request message indicates a normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Attach due to Handover”; or

c) an Attach Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “HandoverAttach”.

(2) A new message is defined. For example, a new Handover Attach Request message is defined. This message indicates an Attach Request message caused by handover. The old Attach Request message indicates a normal Attach Request message (also known as an initial Attach Request message). In this way, the UE can send different Attach Request messages to the network to indicate the corresponding registration processing type information. Alternatively, a new message corresponding to the normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message) is defined, and the original Attach Request message corresponds to the Attach Request message caused by handover. Alternatively, both the Attach Request message caused by handover and the normal Attach Request message (also known as initial Attach Request message) are redefined.

(3) An Update Type IE is added in the RAU request message. For example, the values of the Update Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal RAU (also known as Initial RAU), and indicates that the RAU request message is a normal RAU request message (also known as initial RAU request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover RAU, and indicates that the RAU request message is caused by handover. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the RAU request message to indicate that the RAU request message is caused by handover. The original RAU request message indicates a normal RAU request message (also known as initial RAU request message). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “RAU due to Handover”; or

c) an Update Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “Handover RAU”.

(4) A new message is defined. For example, a new Handover RAU Request message is defined. This message indicates an RAU request message caused by handover. The old RAU request message indicates a normal RAU request message (also known as an initial RAU request message). In this way, the UE can send different RAU request messages to the network to indicate the corresponding registration processing type information. Alternatively, a new message corresponding to the normal RAU request message (also known as initial RAU request message) is defined, and the original RAU request message corresponds to the RAU request message caused by handover. Alternatively, both the RAU request message caused by handover and the normal RAU request message (also known as initial RAU request message) are redefined.

4. An authentication procedure is performed between the UE, the SGSN, and the HSS. In this step, the SGSN may report the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS. If the registration processing type is a handover processing type, the HSS may provide the SGSN with the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN.

5. The SGSN sends an Update Location message to the HSS, and registers the address of the SGSN into the HSS. In this step, the SGSN may report the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS.

6. The HSS inserts the subscriber data into the SGSN.

7. The HSS returns an Update Location Ack message to the SGSN. In this step, the HSS may provide the SGSN with the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN. In the UE registration process, if the HSS identifies the UE registration processing type (for example, the HSS finds that it stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the non-3GPP AN, the HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover. Otherwise, the HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is a normal registration processing type), the HSS adds an indication bit into the message to notify SGSN of the UE registration processing type information. The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE. If the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover, the HSS adds a Handover Indication IE. For a normal registration processing type, the HSS does not add this IE;

b) a Cause IE. For the registration caused by handover, the HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Initial Attach”, or does not add the Cause IE; or

c) an Update Type IE. For the registration caused by handover, the HSS sets this IE to “Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the HSS sets this IE to “Initial Attach”, or does not add this IE.

8. The SGSN identifies the processing type of the registration according to the registration processing type information reported by the UE or the HSS.

Now the SGSN succeeds in distinguishing between different registration processing types.

Further, if the processing type is normal registration, the SGSN performs the normal registration procedure, and steps 11-16 are performed.

If the processing type is registration caused by handover, the SGSN sends a Create Bearer Request message to the obtained PDN GW (namely, the current Gateway GPRS Supporting Node (GGSN)) address, requesting the network to initiate bearer creation procedure. In this way, the service used by the UE in the non-3GPP network is re-created in the new access system. The process proceeds to step 9.

9. If it is necessary to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user from the PCRF, the PDN GW sends a Request PCC Rules message to the PCRF to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user. The PCRF provides the PDN GW with the PCC rules applied by the user.

10. The PDN GW initiates a network-initiate bearer creation procedure to create the bearer of the user, and then the process proceeds to step 16.

Steps 11-15 are the same as the counterpart in the first embodiment, and are not repeated here any further.

16. The SGSN returns an Attach Accept message or an RAU Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 3

The foregoing mechanism is also applicable to a trusted non-3GPP system. When the UE sends a registration request message to the non-3GPP GW, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information, and creates a bearer for the UE according to registration processing type to complete the registration. The non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create resources in the non-3GPP network used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the AAA server stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP network, the AAA server notifies the HSS to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP network, and the AAA server notifies the PDN GW to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP network. As shown in FIG. 9, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the 3GPP network through the serving GW and the PDN GW.

2. The MME or the SGSN sends an HO Command to the UE, notifying the UE to hand over to the non-3GPP network; or the UE discovers the non-3GPP network and decides to initiate handover.

3. Before initiating registration into the non-3GPP network, the UE identifies the type of the registration. Afterward, the UE sends an Access Request message to the non-3GPP GW, and reports the registration processing type to the non-3GPP GW.

The registration processing type may be reported in one of the following ways:

(1) An Access Type IE is added in the Access Request message. For example, the values of the Access Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Access (also known as Initial Access), and indicates that the Access Request message is a normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Access, and indicates that the Access Request message is caused by handover. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the Access Request message to indicate that the Access Request message is caused by handover. The original Access Request message indicates a normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Access due to Handover”; or

c) an Access Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “Handover Access”.

(2) A new message is defined. For example, a new Handover Access Request message is defined. This message indicates an Access Request message caused by handover. The old Access Request message indicates a normal Access Request message (also known as an initial Access Request message). In this way, the UE can send different Access Request messages to the network to indicate the corresponding registration processing type information. Alternatively, a new message corresponding to the normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message) is defined, and the original Access Request message corresponds to the Access Request message caused by handover. Alternatively, both the Access Request message caused by handover and the normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message) are redefined.

4. An authentication procedure is performed between the UE, the non-3GPP GW, the AAA server, and the HSS. In this step, the UE may report the registration processing type to the non-3GPP GW. The UE puts an Access Type cell in the message of the authentication procedure. For example, the values of the Access Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Access (also known as Initial Access), and indicates that the Access Request message is a normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Access, and indicates that the Access Request message is caused by handover.

Alternatively, the UE puts an Attach Type cell in the message of the authentication procedure. For example, the values of the Attach Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Attach (also known as Initial Attach), and indicates that the registration processing type of the UE is normal registration (also known as initial registration); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Attach, and indicates that the registration processing type of the UE is registration caused by handover.

Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the message of the authentication procedure to indicate that the registration processing type of the UE is registration caused by handover. The original message of the authentication procedure indicates normal registration (also known as initial registration). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Attach due to Handover”; or

c) an Attach Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “HandoverAttach”.

In this step, the non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type of the UE to the AAA server.

In the UE registration process, if the AAA server identifies the UE registration processing type (for example, the AAA server finds that it stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP AN, the AAA server determines that the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover. Otherwise, the AAA server determines that the UE registration processing type is a normal registration processing type), the AAA server adds an indication bit in the message to notify the registration processing type information to non-3GPP GW. The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE. If the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover, the AAA server adds a Handover Indication IE. For a normal registration processing type, the AAA server does not add this IE;

b) a Cause IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Initial Attach”, or does not add the Cause IE; or

c) an Update Type IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server sets this IE to “Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server sets this IE to “Initial Attach”, or does not add this IE.

5. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the registration processing type information reported by the UE.

Now the non-3GPP GW succeeds in distinguishing between different registration processing types.

Further, if the processing type is normal access, the non-3GPP GW performs the normal access procedure, and steps 7-13 are performed.

If the processing type is access caused by handover, the non-3GPP GW sends a Request PCC Rules message to the PCRF to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user. The PCRF provides the non-3GPP GW with the PCC rules applied by the user, and then the process proceeds to step 6.

6. The non-3GPP GW initiates a network-initiate bearer creation procedure to create the bearer of the user, and then the process proceeds to step 13.

7. If the UE registration processing type is normal registration and the AAA server stores the registered PDN GW addresses, and if such PDN GW addresses are the PDN GW addresses used by the UE when the UE accesses the 3GPP AN and are registered into the AAA server through the HSS, the AAA server sends a Cancel Register message to the PDN GW, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP AN. The PDN GW returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the AAA server.

8. If the interface protocol between the PDN GW and the serving GW is a PMIP, the PDN GW sends a Binding Revocation Indication message to the serving GW to cancel the PMIP binding between the serving GW and the PDN GW. The serving GW returns a Binding Revocation Acknowledge message to the PDN GW.

9. After receiving the Binding Revocation Indication message, the serving GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPPAN.

10. If the interface protocol between the PDN GW and the serving GW is a GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP), the PDN GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

11. A session abort procedure is performed between the PDN GW and the PCRF, and the PCRF is notified to release the PCC rules applied by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

12. The AAA server sends a Cancel Register message to the HSS to cancel the UE registration in the HSS. The HSS returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the AAA server.

13. The non-3GPP GW returns an Access Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 4

The foregoing mechanism is also applicable to a trusted non-3GPP system. When the UE sends a registration request message to the non-3GPP GW, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information, and creates a bearer for the UE according to registration processing type to complete the registration. The non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create resources in the non-3GPP network used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the AAA server stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP network, the AAA server notifies the HSS to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP network, and the HSS notifies the MME/SGSN to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP network. As shown in FIG. 10, the process includes the following steps:

Steps 1-6 are the same as the counterpart in the third embodiment, and are not repeated here any further.

7. If the UE registration processing type is normal registration and the AAA server stores the registered PDN GW addresses, and if such PDN GW addresses are the PDN GW addresses used by the UE when the UE accesses the 3GPP AN and are registered into the AAA server through the HSS, the AAA server sends a Cancel Register message to the HSS, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the HSS. The HSS returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the AAA server.

8. The HSS sends a Cancel Location message to the MME/SGSN. The MME/SGSN returns a Cancel Location Ack message to the HSS.

9. The MME/SGSN separates the UE to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

10. A session abort procedure is performed between the PDN GW and the PCRF, and the PCRF is notified to release the PCC rules applied by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

11. The non-3GPP GW returns an Access Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 5

The foregoing mechanism is also applicable to an untrusted non-3GPP system. When the UE sends an access authentication request or IKEv2/IPsec SA creation request message to an Evolved Packet Data Gateway (ePDG, a type of non-3GPP GW), the UE reports the registration processing type information to the ePDG The ePDG identifies the registration processing type according to the information, creates a bearer for the UE according to the registration processing type, and completes the registration. The ePDG reports the registration processing type to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create resources in the non-3GPP network used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the AAA server stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP network, the AAA server notifies the HSS to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP network, and the AAA server notifies the PDN GW to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP network. As shown in FIG. 11, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the 3GPPAN through the serving GW and the PDN GW.

2. The MME or the SGSN sends an HO Command to the UE, notifying the UE to hand over to the non-3GPP network; or the UE discovers the non-3GPP network and decides to initiate handover.

3. An authentication procedure is performed between the UE, ePDG, AAA server, and HSS. In this step, the UE may report the registration processing type of the UE to the ePDG The UE puts an Access Type cell in the message of the access authentication procedure. For example, the values of the Access Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Access (also known as Initial Access), and indicates that the Access Request message is a normal Access Request message (also known as initial Access Request message); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Access, and indicates that the Access Request message is caused by handover.

Alternatively, the UE puts an Attach Type IE in the message of the access authentication procedure. For example, the values of the Attach Type IE are 0 and 1. The value “0” corresponds to Normal Attach (also known as Initial Attach), and indicates that the registration processing type of the UE is normal registration (also known as initial registration); and the value “1” corresponds to Handover Attach, and indicates that the registration processing type of the UE is registration caused by handover.

Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the message of the access authentication procedure to indicate that the registration processing type of the UE is registration caused by handover. The original message of the access authentication procedure indicates normal registration (also known as initial registration). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Attach due to Handover”; or

c) an Attach Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “HandoverAttach”.

In this step, the ePDG may report the registration processing type of the UE to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS.

In the UE registration process, if the AAA server identifies the UE registration processing type (for example, the AAA server finds that it stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP AN, the AAA server determines that the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover. Otherwise, the AAA server determines that the UE registration processing type is a normal registration processing type), the AAA server adds an indication bit in the message to notify the registration processing type information to ePDG The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE. If the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover, the AAA server adds a Handover Indication IE. For a normal registration processing type, the AAA server does not add this IE;

b) a Cause IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Initial Attach”, or does not add the Cause IE; or

c) an Update Type IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server sets this IE to “Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server sets this IE to “Initial Attach”, or does not add this IE.

4. An IKEv2/IPSec SA creation procedure is performed between the UE, ePDG, and AAA server. In this step, the UE may report the registration processing type of the UE to the ePDG The UE puts the Access Type IE or the Attach Type IE in the message of the IKEv2/IPSec SA creation procedure to indicate the registration processing type of the UE. Alternatively, the UE adds an indication bit in the message of the IKEv2/IPSec SA creation procedure to indicate that the registration processing type of the UE is registration caused by handover. The original message of the IKEv2/IPSec SA creation procedure indicates normal registration (also known as initial registration). The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE;

b) a Cause IE. The UE sets the Cause IE to “Access due to Handover”; or

c) anAccess Type IE. The UE sets this IE to “Handover Access”.

In this step, the ePDG may report the registration processing type of the UE to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type of the UE to the HSS.

5. The ePDG identifies the processing type of the registration according to the registration processing type information reported by the UE.

Now the ePDG succeeds in distinguishing between different registration processing types.

Further, if the processing type is normal access, the ePDG performs the normal access procedure, and steps 7-13 are performed.

If the processing type is access caused by handover, the ePDG sends a Request PCC Rules message to the PCRF to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user. The PCRF provides the non-3GPP GW with the PCC rules applied by the user, and then the process proceeds to step 6.

6. The ePDG initiates a network-initiate bearer creation procedure to create the bearer of the user, and then the process proceeds to step 13.

Steps 7-13 are the same as the counterpart in the third embodiment, and are not repeated here any further.

To sum up, in the embodiments of the present invention, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the network in the process of registering into the network, and therefore, the network distinguishes between different registration processing types accordingly.

Further, the network may perform the corresponding procedure according to the identified processing type. Moreover, a mode of the UE reporting the registration processing type information by means of adding an IE or defining a new message is disclosed in an embodiment of the present invention.

Further, in addition to the Initial Attach and the Handover Attach processing types mentioned above, the registration processing types reported by the UE, HSS, and AAA server in this embodiment may include other registration processing types such as Pre-Registration (namely, the UE pre-registers into the target access network), Idle Mode Handover (namely, the UE hands over in the idle mode), and Active Mode Handover (namely, the UE hands over in the active mode). For a multi-mode or dual-mode UE (namely, the UE can access multiple networks simultaneously), possible registration processing types include: Power On Attach (namely, the UE is powered on), Normal Attach (namely, the UE accesses the network normally), Handover Attach (namely, the UE performs handover). This embodiment does not restrict the value of the registration processing type. Other registration processing types are described below, taking the Idle Mode Handover and the Active Mode Handover as examples:

Embodiment 6

When the UE hands over from an HRPD network to an E-UTRAN network in the active mode, the MME obtains the handover processing type of the UE. If determining that the handover processing type is handover of the UE in the active mode, the MME notifies the eNodeB to create resource on the access network side and use the preliminary path handover mechanism. As shown in FIG. 12, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the system at the HRPD network.

2. The UE or the HRPD Access Network (AN) decides to perform handover to the 3GPP network.

3. The UE sends an Attach Request message to the MME through the HRPD network. The MME obtains the processing type information. The MME may obtain the processing type information in one of the following ways:

(1) The UE reports the processing type information: The Attach Request message sent by the UE to the MME indicates whether the Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The UE adds an Attach Type IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the MME the handover processing type. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); and

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode).

The UE adds a Cause IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the cause for the Attach Request message. The UE may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the idle state; and

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the active state.

The UE adds a UE State IE in the Attach Request message to report the state of the UE. According to the state of the UE, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; and

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds an “active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds no “active flag” cell into the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds an “Non-active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds no “Non-active flag” cell into the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

(2) The HRPD AN reports the processing type information: The S101 interface message sent by the HRPD AN to the MME indicates whether the Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The HRPD AN adds an Attach Type IE in the S101 interface message to indicate the MME the handover processing type Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); and

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode).

The HRPD AN adds a Cause IE in the S101 interface message to indicate the cause for the Attach Request message. The HRPD AN may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the idle state; and

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the active state.

The HRPD AN adds a “UE State” IE into the S101 interface message to report the state of the UE. According to the state of the UE, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; and

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the HRPD AN adds an “active flag” IE in the S101 interface message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the HRPD AN adds no “active flag” IE in the S101 interface message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the HRPD AN include an “Non-active flag” IE in the S101 interface message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the HRPD AN adds no “Non-active flag” IE in the S101 interface message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

4. The authentication procedure is performed.

5. The MME sends an Update Location message to the HSS to obtain the subscriber data of the UE. The HSS returns the subscriber data of the UE, including the PDN GW address used by the UE.

6. The MME selects a serving GW, and sends a Create Default Bearer Request message to the serving GW. According to the information included in the Attach Request message, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. If the MME finds that the UE hands over in the active state, the Create Default Bearer Request message sent by the MME requests the serving GW to perform “preliminary path handover”.

7. After receiving the Create Default Bearer Request message, the serving GW initiates a preliminary path handover procedure if finding that the message requests the serving GW to perform “preliminary path handover”. The serving GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW. After receiving the foregoing message, the PDN GW switches the user plane route to the serving GW. That is, the PDN GW sends the received downlink data to the serving GW.

8. The serving GW returns a Create Default Bearer Response message to the MME.

9. According to the information included in the Attach Request message, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. If the MME finds that the UE hands over in the active state, the MME sends a Relocation Request message to the eNodeB, requesting the eNodeB to create the resource on the access network side. The eNodeB finishes creating the resource on the access network side, and then returns a Relocation Request Acknowledge message to the MME.

10. The MME sends an Update Bearer Request message to the serving GW, requesting to update the downlink user plane path of the serving GW to the eNodeB. The serving GW returns an Update Bearer Response message to the MME.

11. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the MME sends a S101 HO Command message to the HRPD AN. The message includes an Attach Accept message and an HO Command message.

12. The HRPD AN sends an HRPD AN L2 message to the UE. The message includes an Attach Accept message and an HO Command message.

13. The UE hands over to the E-UTRAN network, and sends an HO Complete message to the eNodeB.

14. The eNodeB sends a Relocation Complete message to the MME, indicating that the UE has handed over to the E-UTRAN network.

It is worthy of attention that in this embodiment, step 6 may occur before, during or after step 9.

Embodiment 7

When the UE hands over from an HRPD network to an E-UTRAN network in the idle mode, the MME obtains the handover processing type of the UE. If determining that the handover processing type is handover in the idle mode, the MME neither notifies the eNodeB to create resource on the access network side nor uses the preliminary path handover mechanism. As shown in FIG. 13, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the system at the HRPD network.

2. The UE or the HRPD Access Network (AN) decides to perform handover to the 3GPP network.

3. The UE sends an Attach Request message to the MME through the HRPD network. The handover processing type needs to be notified to the MME. The operations are the same as the counterpart in the sixth embodiment, and are not repeated here any further.

4. The authentication procedure is performed.

5. The MME sends an Update Location message to the HSS to obtain the subscriber data of the UE. The HSS returns the subscriber data of the UE, including the PDN GW address used by the UE.

6. The MME selects a serving GW, and sends a Create Default Bearer Request message to the serving GW. According to the information included in the Attach Request message, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. If the MME finds that the UE hands over in the idle state, the Create Default Bearer Request message sent by the MME does not require the serving GW to perform “preliminary path handover”. The serving GW returns a Create Default Bearer Response message to the MME.

7. According to the information included in the Attach Request message, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. If finding that the UE hands over in the idle state, the MME does not notify the eNodeB to create resource on the access network side, but sends an Attach Accept message to the UE directly through the HRPD network.

8. The UE hands over to the E-UTRAN network, and sends a TAU Request message to the MME, indicating that the UE has handed over to the E-UTRAN network.

9. After finding that the UE has handed over to the E-UTRAN network in the idle state, the MME sends an Update Bearer Request message to the serving GW. The MME adds an indication bit in the Update Bearer Request to require the serving GW to perform user plane path handover.

10. When the serving GW discovers the requirement of user plane path handover after receiving the Update Bearer Request message, the serving GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW to update the downlink user plane path of the PDN GW. The PDN GW switches the downlink user plane path to the serving GW, and then returns a Proxy BA message to the serving GW.

11. The serving GW returns an Update Bearer Response message to the MME.

12. The MME returns a TAU Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 8

The method of notifying the handover processing type is also applicable to the normal handover from a non-3GPP network to a 3GPP network. Through an Attach Request message, the UE notifies the handover processing type information to the MME or SGSN. According to the handover processing type information, the MME or SGSN decides whether to notify the access network to create the resource on the access network side. As shown in FIG. 14, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the system at a non-3GPP network (such as WiMax or WLAN).

2. The UE decides to perform handover to the 3GPP network, and initiates a handover procedure.

3. The UE sends an Attach Request message to a network element of the core network through a 3GPP AN. If the 3GPP AN is a GERAN/UTRAN, the network element of the core network is SGSN; or, if the 3GPP AN is an E-UTRAN, the network element of the core network is MME. The Attach Request message sent by the UE to the MME/SGSN indicates whether the Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The MME/SGSN obtains the processing type information. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The UE adds an Attach Type IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the processing type of the MME/SGSN handover. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); or

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode).

The UE adds a Cause IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the cause for the Attach Request message. The UE may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the idle state; and

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the active state.

The UE adds a “UE State” IE in the Attach Request message to report the state of the UE. According to the state of the UE, the MME/SGSN knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; or

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds an “active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds no “active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds an “Non-active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds no “Non-active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

4. The authentication procedure is performed.

5. The MME/SGSN sends an Update Location message to the HSS to obtain the subscriber data of the UE. The HSS returns the subscriber data of the UE, including the PDN GW address used by the UE.

6. The MME/SGSN selects a serving GW, and sends a Create Default Bearer Request message to the serving GW.

7. The serving GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW to update the downlink user plane path of the PDN GW. The PDN GW switches the downlink user plane path to the serving GW, and then returns a Proxy BA message to the serving GW.

8. The serving GW returns a Create Default Bearer Response message to the MME/SGSN.

9. According to the information included in the Attach Request message, the MME/SGSN knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. If the MME/SGSN finds that the UE hands over in the active state, steps 9-12 are performed. If the MME/SGSN finds that the UE hands over in the idle state, steps 13-14 are performed.

The MME/SGSN sends an Initial Context Setup Request message to the 3GPP AN, requesting the 3GPP AN to create resource on the access network side. The message includes an Attach Accept message.

10. Radio bearer is created between the 3GPPAN and the UE.

11. The 3GPP AN returns an Initial Context Setup Complete message to the MME/SGSN. This message also includes the Attach Complete message.

12. The MME/SGSN sends an Update Bearer Request message to the serving GW, requesting to update the downlink user plane path to the eNodeB. The serving GW updates the downlink user plane path to the 3GPP AN, and then returns an Update Bearer Response message to the MME/SGSN.

13. If the MME/SGSN finds that the UE hands over in the idle state, the MME/SGSN sends an Attach Accept message to the UE.

14. The UE returns an Attach Complete message to the MME/SGSN.

Embodiment 9

When the UE sends a registration request message to the non-3GPP GW, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information, and creates bearer for the UE according to registration processing type to complete the registration. The non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create bearer in the non-3GPP network used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the HSS stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP network, the HSS notifies the AAA server to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP network, and the AAA server notifies the PDN GW to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP network. As shown in FIG. 15, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the 3GPPAN through the serving GW and the PDN GW.

2. The MME or the SGSN sends an HO Command to the UE, notifying the UE to hand over to the non-3GPP network; or the UE discovers the non-3GPP network and decides to initiate handover.

3. Before initiating registration into the non-3GPP network, the UE identifies the type of the registration. Afterward, the UE sends an Access Request message to the non-3GPP GW, and reports the registration processing type to the non-3GPP GW.

4. An authentication procedure is performed between the UE, the non-3GPP GW, the AAA server, and the HSS. In this step, the UE may report the registration processing type to the non-3GPP GW.

In this step, the non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type to the AAA server and the HSS. If the registration processing type is a handover processing type, the AAA server or HSS may provide the non-3GPP GW with the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

In the UE registration process, if the AAA server or HSS identifies the UE registration processing type (for example, the AAA server or HSS finds that it stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP AN, the AAA server or HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover. Otherwise, the AAA server or HSS determines that the UE registration processing type is a normal registration processing type), the AAA server or HSS adds an indication bit in the message to notify the registration processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. The indication bit may be:

a) a Handover Indication IE. If the UE registration processing type is registration caused by handover, the AAA server or HSS adds a Handover Indication IE. For a normal registration processing type, the AAA server or HSS does not add this IE;

b) a Cause IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server or HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server or HSS sets the Cause IE to “Update due to Initial Attach”, or does not add the Cause IE; or

c) an Update Type IE. For the registration caused by handover, the AAA server or HSS sets this IE to “Handover Attach”. For normal registration, the AAA server or HSS sets this IE to “Initial Attach”, or does not add this IE.

5. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the registration processing type information reported by the UE, AAA server, or HSS.

Now the non-3GPP GW succeeds in distinguishing between different registration processing types.

Further, if the processing type is normal access, the non-3GPP GW performs the normal access procedure, and steps 7-13 are performed.

If the processing type is access caused by handover, the non-3GPP GW sends a Request PCC Rules message to the PCRF to obtain the PCC rules applied by the user. The PCRF provides the non-3GPP GW with the PCC rules applied by the user, and then the process proceeds to step 6.

6. The non-3GPP GW initiates a network-initiate bearer creation procedure to create the bearer for the user, and then the process proceeds to step 13.

7. If the registration processing type is normal registration and the HSS stores the registered PDN GW addresses, and if such PDN GW addresses are the PDN GW addresses used by the UE when the UE accesses the 3GPP AN, the HSS sends a Cancel Register message to the AAA server, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the AAA server. The AAA server returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the HSS.

8. The AAA server sends a Cancel Register message to the PDN GW, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP AN. The PDN GW returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the AAA server.

9. If the interface protocol between the PDN GW and the serving GW is a PMIP, the PDN GW sends a Binding Revocation Indication message to the serving GW to cancel the PMIP binding between the serving GW and the PDN GW. The serving GW returns a Binding Revocation Acknowledge message to the PDN GW.

10. After receiving the Binding Revocation Indication message, the serving GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

11. If the interface protocol between the PDN GW and the serving GW is a GTP, the PDN GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

12. A session abort procedure is performed between the PDN GW and the PCRF, and the PCRF is notified to release the PCC rules applied by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

13. The non-3GPP GW returns an Access Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 10

When the UE sends a registration request message to the non-3GPP GW, the UE reports the registration processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. The non-3GPP GW identifies the processing type of the registration according to the information, and creates bearer for the UE according to registration processing type to complete the registration. The non-3GPP GW reports the registration processing type to the AAA server, and the AAA server reports the registration processing type to the HSS. For the registration caused by handover, the network initiates a bearer creation procedure to create bearer in the non-3GPP network used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. For initialization registration, if the HSS stores the PDN GW address used by the UE in the 3GPP network, the HSS notifies the AAA server to cancel the UE registration in the 3GPP network, and the HSS notifies the MME/SGSN to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP network. As shown in FIG. 16, the process includes the following steps:

Steps 1-6 are the same as the counterpart in the ninth embodiment, and are not repeated here any further.

7. If the UE registration processing type is normal registration and the HSS stores the registered PDN GW addresses, and if such PDN GW addresses are the PDN GW addresses used by the UE when the UE accesses the 3GPP AN, the HSS sends a Cancel Register message to the AAA server, requesting to cancel the UE registration in the AAA server. The AAA server returns a Cancel Register Ack message to the HSS.

8. The HSS sends a Cancel Location message to the MME/SGSN. The MME/SGSN returns a Cancel Location Ack message to the HSS.

9. The MME/SGSN separates the UE to release the resource used by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

10. A session abort procedure is performed between the PDN GW and the PCRF, and the PCRF is notified to release the PCC rules applied by the UE in the 3GPP AN.

11. The non-3GPP GW returns an Access Accept message to the UE.

Embodiment 11

When the UE hands over from a non-3GPP network to a 3GPP network in the active mode, the first network element of the 3GPP network obtains the handover processing type. If determining that the handover processing type is handover in the active mode, the first network element of the 3GPP network notifies the PDN GW not to initiate the resource release procedure in the source non-3GPP network, and notifies the serving GW to create a data forwarding tunnel between the serving GW and the non-3GPP GW. As shown in FIG. 17, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the system at the non-3GPP network.

2. The UE or the non-3GPP access network element (for an HRPD network, the non-3GPP access network element is an HRPD Radio Network Controller (RNC)) decides to perform handover to the 3GPP network.

3. Through the non-3GPP network, the UE sends an Attach Request message to the first network element of the 3GPP network (for the E-UTRAN network, the first network element of the 3GPP network is an MME; for the GERAN/UTRAN network, the first network element of the 3GPP network is an SGSN). The first network element of the 3GPP network obtains the processing type information. The first network element of the 3GPP network may obtain the processing type information in one of the following ways:

(1) The UE reports the processing type information: The Attach Request message sent by the UE to the first network element of the 3GPP network indicates whether the Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The UE adds an Attach Type IE into the Attach Request message to indicate the handover processing type to the MME. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); or

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode); or

For optimized handover or pre-registration in the active state, the UE sets the Attach Type IE in the Attach Request message to “Optimized Handover” or “Pre-registration” or “Handover”. After receiving the Attach Type, the first network element of the 3GPP network believes that the Attach procedure is handover in the active state by default.

The UE adds a Cause IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the cause for the Attach Request message. The UE may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the idle state; or

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the active state.

The UE adds a UE State” IE in the Attach Request message to report the state of the UE. According to the state of the UE, the MME knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; or

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds an “active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds no “active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds an “Non-active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds no “Non-active flag” IE in the Attach Request message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

(2) The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW reports the processing type information: The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW sends an interface message to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate whether the Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds an Attach Type IE into the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate the handover processing type. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); or

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode); or

For optimized handover or pre-registration in the active state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW sets the Attach Type IE to “Optimized Handover” or “Pre-registration” or “Handover”. After receiving the Attach Type, the first network element of the 3GPP network believes that the Attach procedure is handover in the active state by default.

The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds a Cause IE in the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate the cause for the Attach Request message. The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the idle state; or

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the Attach Request is caused by handover in the active state.

The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds a “UE State” IE in the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to report the UE state. According to the state of the UE, the first network element of the 3GPP network knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; or

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds an “active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. When the UE hands over in the idle state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds no “active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds a “Non-active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. When the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW adds no “Non-active flag” IE into the interface message sent to the first network element of the 3GPP network to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

4. The authentication procedure is performed.

5. The first network element of the 3GPP network sends an Update Location message to the HSS to obtain the subscriber data of the UE. The HSS returns the subscriber data of the UE, including the PDN GW address used by the UE.

6. The first network element of the 3GPP network selects a serving GW, and sends a Create Default Bearer Request message to the serving GW.

7. If the interface protocol between the serving GW and the PDN GW is a GTP, the serving GW sends a Create Default Bearer Request message to the PDN GW. If the interface protocol between the serving GW and the PDN GW is a PMIP, the serving GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW. The PDN GW returns a Create Default Bearer Response message or a Proxy BA message to the serving GW.

8. The serving GW returns a Create Default Bearer Response message to the first network element of the 3GPP network.

9. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network sends a Create Forwarding Tunnels Request to the serving GW, requesting the serving GW to create a forwarding tunnel. The serving GW returns a Create Forwarding Tunnels Response message to the first network element of the 3GPP network. The message includes the forwarding tunnel information (including a serving GW address and Generic Routing Encapsulation (GRE) Keys).

10. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network sends an HO Command message to the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW. The message includes an Attach Accept message, an HO Command message, and forwarding tunnel information (including a serving GW address and GRE Keys).

11. After receiving the HO Command message, the non-3 GPP access network element sends a Create Forwarding Tunnels Request message to the non-3GPP GW, notifying the non-3GPP GW of the obtained forwarding tunnel information. The non-3GPP GW returns a Create Forwarding Tunnels Response message to the non-3GPP access network element.

Subsequently, the non-3GPP GW forwards the received downlink data to the serving GW through the forwarding tunnel (including a serving GW address and GRE keys).

12. The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW sends an HO Command message to the UE. The message includes an Attach Accept message and an HO Command message.

13. The UE hands over to the 3GPP network, and sends an HO Complete message to the 3GPP access network element.

14. The 3GPP access network element sends a Relocation Complete message to the first network element of the 3GPP network, indicating that the UE has handed over to the 3GPP network.

15. The first network element of the 3GPP network sends an Update Bearer Request message to the serving GW. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network adds an indication bit in the Update Bearer Request message to indicate the PDN GW not to initiate a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source non-3GPP AN. This indication bit may be: Optimized Handover Indication, Pre-registration Indication, or Resource not Release Indication. Specifically, the indication bit may be:

(1) an Update Type indication bit. The first network element on the network side sets the Update Type indication bit to “Pre-registration” or “Optimized Handover”;

(2) a Cause value. The first network element on the network side sets the Cause value to “Pre-registration”, “Optimized Handover” or “Resource not Release”; or

(3) a Pre-registration Indication, or Optimized Handover Indication, or Resource not Release Indication.

16. If the interface protocol between the serving GW and the PDN GW is GTP, the serving GW sends an Update Bearer Request message to the PDN GW. If the interface protocol between the serving GW and the PDN GW is PMIP, the serving GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW. The serving GW adds an indication bit in the Update Bearer Request message or the Proxy BU message to indicate the PDN GW not to initiate a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source non-3GPP AN. This indication bit may be: Optimized Handover Indication, Pre-registration Indication, or Resource not Release Indication. Specifically, the indication bit may be:

(1) an Update Type indication bit, or a Binding Type indication bit. The serving GW sets the Update Type indication bit or the Binding Type indication bit to “Pre-registration” or “Optimized Handover”;

(2) a Cause value. The serving GW sets the Cause value to “Pre-registration”, “Optimized Handover”, or “Resource not Release”; or

(3) a Pre-registration Indication, or Optimized Handover Indication, or Resource not Release Indication.

After receiving the foregoing message, the PDN GW does not initiate the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source non-3GPP AN (namely, the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source non-3GPP AN is not triggered by the PDN GW). The PDN GW returns an Update Bearer Response message or a Proxy BA message to the serving GW.

17. The serving GW returns an Update Bearer Response message to the first network element of the 3GPP network.

18. After receiving the Relocation Complete message from the eNodeB, the first network element of the 3GPP network returns an HO Complete message to the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW.

19. After receiving the HO Complete message from the first network element of the 3GPP network, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW initiates a resource release procedure to release the resource in the source non-3GPPAN.

Note:

1. In this embodiment, step 6 may occur before, during or after step 9; and

2. This embodiment does not limit the message in step 9 and step 11. For example, for the HRPD network, the message in step 11 may also be an A11-Registration Request message.

Embodiment 12

When the UE hands over from a 3GPP network to a non-3GPP network in the active mode, the network element in the non-3GPP network obtains the handover processing type. If determining that the handover processing type is handover in the active mode, the network element in the non-3GPP network creates access network resource and a data forwarding resource, and notifies the PDN GW not to initiate resource release procedure to release the resource on the source side. As shown in FIG. 18, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the 3GPP network through the serving GW and the PDN GW.

2. Through the 3GPP network, the UE performs the Attach procedure and the authentication procedure which are specific to the non-3GPP network.

3. Through the 3GPP network, the UE triggers a layer-3 Attach procedure in the non-3GPP network. The access network (for example, RNC in the HRPD network) or the non-3GPP GW (for example, PDSN in the HRPD network) in the non-3GPP network obtains the handover processing type information. The access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network obtains the handover processing type information in one of the following ways:

(1) The UE reports the processing type information: The message of the layer-3 Attach procedure sent by the UE to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network indicates whether the procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The UE adds an Attach Type IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network, and this IE indicates the handover processing type. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover UE in the idle mode); or

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode); or

For optimized handover or pre-registration in the active state, the UE sets the Attach Type IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure to “Optimized Handover”, or “Pre-registration”, or “Handover”. After receiving the Attach Type, the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network believes that the layer-3 Attach procedure is handover of the UE in the active state by default.

The UE adds a Cause IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure to indicate the cause for the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure. The UE may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure is caused by handover in the idle state; or

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure is caused by handover in the active state.

The UE adds a “UE State” IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure message to report the state of the UE. According to the state of the UE, the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; or

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds an “active flag” IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds no “active flag” IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE adds a “Non-active flag” IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure message to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds no “Non-active flag” IE in the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure message to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. Alternatively, when the UE hands over in the idle state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “True(1)” to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side; and when the UE hands over in the active state, the UE sets the “Non-active flag” IE to “False(0)” to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

(2) The first network element of the 3GPP network reports the processing type: The interface message sent by the first network element of the 3GPP network to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network indicates whether the layer-3 Attach procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type may be:

The first network element of the 3GPP network adds an Attach Type IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network. This IE indicates the handover processing type. Different values of the Attach Type indicate different processing types:

0 indicates Idle Mode Handover (handover in the idle mode); or

1 indicates Active Mode Handover (handover in the active mode).

For optimized handover or pre-registration of the UE in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network sets the Attach Type IE to “Optimized Handover”, or “Pre-registration”, or “Handover”. After receiving the Attach Type, the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network believes that the layer-3 Attach procedure is handover in the active state by default.

The first network element of the 3GPP network adds a Cause IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to indicate the cause for the layer-3 Attach procedure message. The first network element of the 3GPP network may set the following Cause values:

Idle Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure is caused by handover in the idle state; or

Active Mode Handover: This cause value indicates that the message of the layer-3 Attach procedure is caused by handover in the active state.

The first network element of the 3GPP network adds a UE State” IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to report the UE state. According to the state of the UE, the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network knows whether the UE hands over in the idle state or in the active state. The UE may set the following UE State values:

0: indicates that the UE is in the idle state; or

1: indicates that the UE is in the active state.

When the UE hands over in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network adds an “active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side. When the UE hands over in the idle state, the first network element of the 3GPP network adds no “active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side.

When the UE hands over in the idle state, the first network element of the 3GPP network adds a “Non-active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to indicate no need of creating bearer on the access network side. When the UE hands over in the active state, the first network element of the 3GPP network adds no “Non-active flag” IE in the interface message sent to the access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network to indicate the need of creating bearer on the access network side.

It is worthy of attention that:

The access network or the non-3GPP GW in the non-3GPP network may also obtain the handover processing type information in step 2. The specific processing mode is the same as that in step 3.

4. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP AN sends a Create Forwarding Tunnels Request message to the non-3GPP GW to request data forwarding resources.

5. The non-3GPP GW returns a Create Forwarding Tunnels Response message to the non-3GPP AN. The message includes the data forwarding tunnel information (for example, for the HRPD network, the data forwarding tunnel information is a PDSN address and a PDSN GRE key) of the non-3GPP GW.

6. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP GW sends a Create Resource Request message to the non-3GPP access network element, requesting to create resource on the access network side. The non-3GPP access network element allocates the resource on the access network side, and returns a Create Resource Response message to the non-3GPP GW.

7. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW sends an HO Command message to the first network element of the 3GPP network. The message includes the data forwarding tunneling information of the non-3GPP GW.

8. After receiving the HO Command, the first network element of the 3GPP network sends a Create Forwarding Tunnels Request message to the serving GW, requesting the serving GW to create data forwarding tunnel. The message includes the data forwarding tunnel information of the non-3GPP GW. The serving GW creates data forwarding tunnel, and returns a Create Forwarding Tunnels Response message to the first network element of the 3GPP network.

9. The first network element of the 3GPP network sends a Relocation Command message to the 3GPP access network element.

The 3GPP access network element forwards the received downlink data packet to the serving GW, and the serving GW forwards the received packet to the non-3GPP GW.

10. The 3GPP AN sends an HO Command message to the UE, requesting the UE to hand over to the non-3GPP network.

11. The UE hands over to the non-3GPP network, and sends an access message to notify the network element in the non-3GPP network that the UE has handed over to the non-3GPP network. The specific access message depends on the non-3GPP network. For example, for an HRPD network, the access message is HRPD Traffic Channel Complete (TCC) message.

12. If the interface protocol between the non-3GPP GW and the PDN GW is PMIP, the non-3GPP GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP GW adds an indication bit in the Proxy BU message to indicate the PDN GW not to initiate a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP network. This indication bit may be: Optimized Handover Indication, Pre-registration Indication, or Resource not Release Indication. The specific processing mode of the indication bit is the same as that in the 11^(th) embodiment.

After receiving the foregoing message, the PDN GW does not initiate the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP AN (namely, the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP AN is not triggered by the PDN GW). The PDN GW returns a Proxy BA message to the non-3GPP GW.

13. If the interface protocol between the UE and the PDN GW is host-based mobility protocol such as Dual Stack MIPv6 (DSMIPv6), the UE sends a Binding Update (BU) message to the PDN GW. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the UE adds an indication bit in the BU message to indicate the PDN GW not to initiate a resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP AN. This indication bit may be: Optimized Handover Indication, Pre-registration Indication, or Resource not Release Indication. The specific processing mode of the indication bit is the same as that in the 11^(th) embodiment.

After receiving the foregoing message, the PDN GW does not initiate the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP AN (namely, the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP AN is not triggered by the PDN GW). The PDN GW returns a Binding Ack (BA) message to the UE.

14. The non-3GPP access network element or the non-3GPP GW sends an HO Complete message to the first network element of the 3GPP network.

15. After receiving the HO Complete message, the first network element of the 3GPP network initiates the resource release procedure to release the resource used by the UE in the source 3GPP network.

It is worthy of attention that:

This embodiment does not limit the message in step 5 and step 8. For example, for the HRPD network, the message in step 5 may also be an A11-Registration Request message.

Embodiment 13

The method of notifying the handover processing type is also applicable to the normal handover from a 3GPP network to a non-3GPP network. Through an Access message of the non-3GPP network, the UE notifies the handover processing type information to the non-3GPP GW. According to the handover processing type, the non-3GPP GW decides whether to notify the access network to create the resource on the access network side. As shown in FIG. 19, the process includes the following steps:

1. The UE accesses the 3GPP network through the serving GW and the PDN GW.

2. The UE hands over to the non-3GPP network, and performs the Attach procedure and the authentication procedure which are specific to the non-3GPP network.

3. Through the access network element of the non-3GPP network, the UE triggers a layer-3 Attach procedure in the non-3GPP network. The non-3GPP GW (such as the PDSN in the HRPD network) obtains the handover processing type information. The non-3GPP GW may obtain the processing type information in the following way:

The UE reports the processing type information: The message of the layer-3 Attach procedure sent by the UE to the non-3GPP GW indicates whether the procedure is handover in the idle state or handover in the active state. The specific mode of notifying the processing type information is the same as that in the 6^(th) embodiment.

It is worthy of attention that:

The non-3GPP GW may also obtain the handover processing type information in step 2. The specific processing mode is the same as that in step 3.

4. If finding that the UE hands over in the active state, the non-3GPP GW sends a Create Resource Request message to the non-3GPP access network element, requesting to create resource on the access network side. The non-3GPP access network element allocates the resource on the access network side, and returns a Create Resource Response message to the non-3GPP GW.

5. If the interface protocol between the non-3GPP GW and the PDN GW is PMIP, the non-3GPP GW sends a Proxy BU message to the PDN GW. The PDN GW returns a Proxy BA message to the non-3GPP GW.

6. If the interface protocol between the UE and the PDN GW is Client Mobile Internet Protocol (CMIP), the UE sends a BU message to the PDN GW. The PDN GW returns a BA message to the UE.

7. The non-3GPP GW returns a layer-3 Attach Complete message to the UE.

To sum up, through the embodiments of the present invention, the network-side network element can perform discriminative processing after obtaining the UE registration processing type information, thus overcoming the inability of processing discriminatively according to different registration procedures in the prior art.

It is apparent that those skilled in the art can make modifications and variations to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The present invention is intended to cover the modifications and variations provided that they fall in the scope of protection defined by the following claims or their equivalents. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A handover processing method, comprising: receiving, by a Mobility Management Entity (MME), an attach request message sent by a User Equipment (UE) during a handover from a non 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) network to a 3^(rd) Generation Partnership (3GPP) network, wherein the attach request message comprises an information element (IE) indicating handover; identifying, by the MME, a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) whose address is used by the UE in the non-3GPP network by communicating with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS); and requesting, by the MME, the PDN GW to initiate a bearer creation procedure.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the handover is an active-mode handover, the method further comprises: setting up a data forwarding tunnel between a serving gateway (GW) of the 3GPP network and a non-3GPP GW of the non-3GPP network according to data forwarding tunnel resource information of the 3GPP network.
 3. The method of claim 2, wherein setting up the data forwarding tunnel comprises: sending, by the MME, the data forwarding tunnel resource information to the non-3GPP GW either directly or through a non-3GPP access network element; and creating, by the non-3GPP GW, the data forwarding tunnel with the serving GW.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein the requesting a the PDN GW to initiate a bearer creation procedure comprises: sending, by the MME, a Create Bearer Request message to the PDN GW; and initiating, by the PDN GW, the bearer creation procedure.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein after the PDN GW receives the Create Bearer Request message, sending a Request Policy and Charging Control (PCC) rules message by the PDN GW to a Policy and Charging Rule Function (PCRF) to obtain a PCC Rule.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein the IE is an Attach Type IE.
 7. The method of claim 6, wherein a value of the Attach Type IE is set to “1”.
 8. The method of claim 6, wherein a value of the Attach Type IE is set to “Handover Attach”.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein the MME identifies the PDN GW by obtaining an identity of the PDN GW from the HSS.
 10. The method of claim 1, wherein the MME identifies the PDN GW by obtaining the PDN GW address from the HSS.
 11. A network element, comprising: an obtaining unit, configured to receive an attach request message sent by a User Equipment (UE) during a handover from a non 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (non-3GPP) network to a 3^(rd) Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) network, wherein the attach request message comprises an information element indicating handover; an identifying unit, configured to identify that the attach request message is due to the handover according to the IE indicating handover; and a processing unit, configured to identify a Packet Data Network Gateway (PDN GW) whose address is used by the UE in the non-3GPP network by communicating with a Home Subscriber Server (HSS), and request the PDN GW to initiate a bearer creation procedure.
 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the IE is an Attach Type IE.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein a value of the Attach Type IE is set to “1”.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein a value of the Attach Type IE is set to “Handover Attach”. 